I can't seem to get any of my tyres to wear at all - it's either my driving, my low mileage, or the number of sets of tyres I have. I like both the Michelin PS3s and the Dunlop Sport Maxxs I have though, and the winter Alpin PA 4's are also very good.

So, I fitted 275/35/20 Michelin's Super Sport today and so far they have best grip in dry so far when I compare then to Pirellis, Dunlops or Toyos.
Very happy, just waiting for some rain. Toyo Proxes T1 sport were really good, but I expect Michelins to be better.
Thanks for your input in this thread guys

When I got my S8 it had Nankang tyres on it and I thought the bearings were going, they were so noisy. I swapped to Vredesteins which were great when new, but now they're getting a bit 'thin', the wet grip is not so good and the road noise at 'higher' speeds is awful: a recent 300 mile long motorway journey left me with a headache!

What I want is a good quality tyre, with good wet grip, a long life and low road noise. I'm begining to think that some of these are mutually exclusive.

When I got my S8 it had Nankang tyres on it and I thought the bearings were going, they were so noisy. I swapped to Vredesteins which were great when new, but now they're getting a bit 'thin', the wet grip is not so good and the road noise at 'higher' speeds is awful: a recent 300 mile long motorway journey left me with a headache!

What I want is a good quality tyre, with good wet grip, a long life and low road noise. I'm begining to think that some of these are mutually exclusive.

Any candidates?

Well Jim, I'm not really please with the sound.
Toyo Proxes T1 Sport were quieter at the exactly same wear level, 5mm.
I was shocked and I don't really understand this.
If you check the db for each tyre, they all are between 71-73 db were nankang is quieter than michelin, pirelli, toyo, just go to mytyres co uk.
WTF??? How is doing this noise tests, are they high while doing it, because a 1db between toyo and michelin sound like having tyres on or not.
I don't get it.

Jim, I would really really try Toyo Proxes T1 Sport, dual compound, great in wet and dry, quieter than michelin, good wear, and audi puts them on s5 and a6.
I was really pleased with them when comparing to previous dunlops maxx and pirellis.

I seem to recall that some time ago I read that the tyre noise rating was measured as the noise emitted externally to the car and didn't bear much relationship the the noise transmitted to the inside of the car.

So what bothers the driver (noise transmitted to the inside of the car through steering and suspension) isn't measured.

I think nothing, the Z prefix is an old way of rating tyres that has been effectively superceded.

Quote:

What are ZR tyres ?
ZR indicates that the tyre can handle speeds superior to 149 MPH It includes the category W and Y. High performance tyres On you tyre sidewall, it is sometimes indicated by a Z marking.